The Case for Education Transformation: Reflections on 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year of urgent and interconnected global challenges. From climate change to the rise of artificial intelligence, from strengthening democracies to navigating the flood of misinformation, this has been a year of reckoning with crises that affect us all.

These reflections are sharpened by a week of final meetings in Washington, DC, where, once again, the focus was on critical global issues. And yet, one glaring omission continues to dominate my thoughts: education transformation is consistently absent from the centre of these conversations.

This is not a new realisation. At key global moments like Climate Week in New York or COP in Baku, education was barely on the agenda in any meaningful way. Despite its foundational importance, education remains largely siloed—a concern for “education people” rather than a shared global priority. This fragmented approach is profoundly misguided.

Education is not just another issue; it is the foundation of everything. It underpins progress in every other sector, whether climate action, technological innovation, economic resilience, or democratic stability. Without transformed education systems, none of these challenges can be meaningfully addressed.

But it’s not just about what children learn—it’s about how they learn. Pedagogy matters. Teachers must be recognised as central to this transformation, supported with the training, resources, and respect they deserve. Schools must be safe and secure environments where children can learn, free from fear or disruption. As we have seen through the devastating impacts of school shootings, war, and conflict, simply being in school is not enough. Children cannot thrive academically or emotionally unless their basic safety and well-being are prioritised.

And yet, the question remains: why is education so consistently overlooked?

Education: The Keystone of Every Solution

Education is not just one priority among many; it is the keystone. It touches every facet of life and underpins progress in all major global challenges.

Take climate change. Addressing this crisis demands a generation equipped with the knowledge and skills to innovate, adapt, and advocate. Yet, sustainability, systems thinking, and problem-solving are largely absent from curricula around the world. Without these tools, young people cannot lead the climate action we so urgently need.

Similarly, artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies faster than education systems can adapt. Students today will need skills for jobs that don’t yet exist, alongside ethical reasoning, digital literacy, and emotional intelligence to navigate these rapid changes. Yet, most schools are still focused on outdated curricula that fail to prepare young people for these new realities.

Democracy also depends on education. Strong democracies require engaged, informed citizens who can think critically, evaluate evidence, and participate meaningfully in governance. But civic literacy and critical thinking are often sidelined in favour of rote memorisation and standardised testing. Without these skills, democracies will continue to erode, leaving societies vulnerable to misinformation and division.

Economic resilience, too, is built on education. Innovation and growth depend on a skilled, adaptable, and creative workforce. Yet, millions of children leave school each year without even basic literacy and numeracy skills, let alone the entrepreneurial mindsets or cross-disciplinary knowledge required for today’s global economy.

Finally, in this post-truth world, education must teach young people to critically evaluate information and rebuild trust in institutions. Misinformation is one of the greatest threats of our time, and only education can equip future generations with the tools to navigate it.

Putting Children at the Centre

At the heart of this transformation lies the need to put children at the centre of all our discussions. From the moment of birth—and even before—children are constantly learning and developing. Early childhood experiences are critical to shaping not only individual futures but the collective well-being of society.

Children are not just passive beneficiaries of these systems; they are active participants in the world we are shaping. It is their future that hangs in the balance, and they must have a say in the decisions that will impact them the most.

We need to see more young people on the boards of foundations, civil society organisations (CSOs), multilateral funds, and even at cabinet tables. Their perspectives, insights, and lived experiences bring an urgency and clarity to decision-making that too often gets lost in bureaucratic processes. It’s time we move beyond tokenistic engagement and genuinely create spaces where children and young people are at the heart of decisions about education and the future.

Breaking Education Out of Its Silo

One of the most significant barriers to meaningful education transformation is its consistent confinement to a silo. Education remains the domain of “education people” rather than a shared global responsibility.

At moments like Climate Week or COP, where cross-sectoral collaboration is critical, education barely features. This fragmented approach prevents education from playing its necessary role as a foundation for action on climate, democracy, AI, or any other major global issue.

This absence has devastating implications. Without reimagining how we teach and what children learn, we risk perpetuating systems that fail to prepare the next generation for the complexities of the world they will inherit. Education transformation cannot be achieved through isolated efforts—it requires global recognition of its centrality to all progress.

We need louder and more influential voices advocating for these transformed systems. Business leaders, heads of state, the climate movement, and young people themselves must come together to make education the centre of every discussion and agenda. Education cannot remain a secondary concern. It must be the shared priority of every sector.

What Needs to Change

The transformation of education systems must be bold, inclusive, and centred on the needs of children and young people. To achieve this, we need to:

1. Prioritise creativity, resilience, and adaptability. Education must equip young people with the skills they need to navigate uncertainty, solve complex problems, and collaborate across differences. Emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and systems thinking are just as important as academic knowledge.
2. Elevate pedagogy. How children learn is as critical as what they learn. Teachers must have the freedom, training, and tools to deliver learning in ways that are engaging, inclusive, and relevant to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
3. Value teachers. Teachers are the backbone of education systems, and their role must be elevated and respected. They deserve competitive pay, ongoing professional development, and the resources to innovate in their classrooms.
4. Support and empower education ministers. Education ministers are often given neither the time nor the resources to implement true systems transformation. Too often, these roles are seen as stepping stones to other government briefs, with ministers leaving after just a couple of years. This constant turnover undermines continuity and progress. Education ministries must be staffed by leaders with the authority, vision, and long-term support to deliver real change.
5. Ensure safe and supportive learning environments. Schools must be places where children feel secure, emotionally supported, and free to focus on learning. This is particularly urgent in regions affected by violence, conflict, or instability.
6. Place children and young people at the centre of decision-making. Education systems must be designed with the voices of children and young people at the forefront. Their insights and experiences are critical to shaping systems that truly meet their needs. Young people must be included in leadership roles across sectors—from boardrooms to cabinet tables—to ensure their perspectives shape policies that impact their futures.
7. Break education out of its silo. Education must no longer be confined to the margins of global discussions. It must be seen as the foundation of progress in every other sector, from climate action to democracy.

A Call to Action for 2025 and Beyond

As I prepare to turn on my out-of-office and step away to recharge, this remains my central concern: how do we ensure education transformation is at the heart of global discussions in 2025?

Education is not just a priority for educators—it is a shared global responsibility. Its transformation must be led by a coalition of voices, from business leaders to climate activists, from heads of state to young people. Only by working together can we ensure that education is central to every agenda and every solution.

Our children deserve systems that prepare them to thrive—not only in the future but today. Teachers deserve the recognition, support, and respect their role demands. Education ministers must be given the time, resources, and trust to deliver systemic change. And children and young people must have seats at every decision-making table to shape the future they will inherit.

The time to act is now. Education must be at the centre of everything.